BANGKOK, April 16, 2025 – Thailand’s Songkran festival has sparked a tourism boom, with international visitor numbers soaring past an average of 100,000 per day, marking a 10.73% increase from the previous week, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
From April 6 to 12, 2025, a total of 666,180 foreign tourists arrived in Thailand, up by 64,564 compared to the prior week, averaging 95,169 visitors daily. The surge, driven by the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025, has solidified Thailand’s status as a top global festival destination.
Key hotspots like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Phuket, and Hat Yai drew massive crowds, with Bangkok’s Silom and Khao San roads hosting over 650,000 revelers. Pattaya officially celebrates its biggest day, Wan Lai, Saturday April 19th, which is also expected to draw hundreds of thousands of revelers.
Cumulatively, from January 1 to April 13, 2025, Thailand welcomed 10,738,424 international tourists, generating over 516.589 billion baht (approximately $14.8 billion USD) in tourism revenue. The government attributes this success to strategic promotions, including visa exemptions for 93 countries and increased flight capacity, with international flights up 9.1% during the festival period.
Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustaining this momentum throughout 2025 under the “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sport Year” campaign. “Songkran’s global appeal showcases Thai culture and drives our economy,” he said, noting plans to attract European visitors during spring holidays to offset a post-festival dip.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) projects Songkran 2025 generated 26.5 billion baht, an 8% rise from last year, with 476,000 international and 4.42 million domestic visitors.
As Thailand eyes a record 40 million tourists in 2025, the government is focused on enhancing travel convenience and promoting cultural festivals to maintain its tourism edge.
